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Now that the sun hath veiled his light 'An Evening Hymn', Z193

Introduction

An Evening Hymn (‘Now that the sun hath veiled his light’) is a complete contrast to the music that one normally associates with Purcell’s writing for the church. Here there is no question of impressing a Sunday congregation in the Chapel Royal, but instead a quite private and penitential attitude to God. Based on a five-bar ground, the work is a wonderful example of Purcell’s skill at handling the form, with the vocal entries adjusted to disguise repetitions of the bass, and a modulation introduced for variety in the middle of the piece. The quietly ecstatic ‘Halleluia’ that takes up the last forty bars or so is very different, but no less effective, to the settings normally heard of that word. There is surely no better example of the craftsmanship and genius of the man who, arguably Britain’s greatest composer, so richly deserved Playford’s accolade.

'It is hard to speak too highly of this enterprise … much enjoyment to be had' (Gramophone)'the performances from The King’s Consort and its Choir, the Choir of New College and a starry line-up of soloists have such qualities of concentratio ...» More

Sir Michael Tippett's great masterpieces—Boyhood's End and The Heart's Assurance—are coupled here with some of his editions of songs by Henry Purcell, and Benjamin Britten's companion piece to Boyhood's End—Canticle 1.» More

Details

Now that the sun hath veiled his light, And bid the world goodnight, To the soft bed my body I dispose; But where shall my soul repose? Dear God, even in thy arms; And can there be any so sweet security? Then to thy rest, O my soul, And singing, praise the mercy That prolongs thy days. Halleluia.

Now that the sun hath veiled his light, And bid the world goodnight, To the soft bed my body I dispose; But where shall my soul repose? Dear God, even in thy arms; And can there be any so sweet security? Then to thy rest, O my soul, And singing, praise the mercy That prolongs thy days. Halleluia.

Now that the sun hath veiled his light, And bid the world goodnight, To the soft bed my body I dispose; But where shall my soul repose? Dear God, even in thy arms; And can there be any so sweet security? Then to thy rest, O my soul, And singing, praise the mercy That prolongs thy days. Halleluia.

Now that the sun hath veiled his light, And bid the world goodnight, To the soft bed my body I dispose; But where shall my soul repose? Dear God, even in thy arms; And can there be any so sweet security? Then to thy rest, O my soul, And singing, praise the mercy That prolongs thy days. Halleluia.

Now, now that the sun hath veil’d his light And bid the world goodnight; To the soft bed my body I dispose, But where shall my soul repose? Dear, dear God, even in Thy arms, And can there be any so sweet security! Then to thy rest, O my soul! And singing, praise the mercy That prolongs thy days.